Are you sure we can't build such an airship?
This is a question that goes straight to the soul. For Europeans who have long been accustomed to Europe's leadership, what they are confused about is why European countries have not been able to build such a giant airship.
Even until now, they still think this is a bit incredible. They simply can't believe that such a dreamy weapon like an airship was made more perfect by the Chinese and was also used in war.
This is not unbelievable, it is simply a slap in the face. What makes them even more incomprehensible is that the airship was obviously invented by Europeans, so why did the Europeans not discover that it actually contained such potential?
In fact, as the power of airships has been exaggerated, many Europeans have raised such questions.
Why weren't European countries the first to build such a huge, practical airship?
Of course, now they only asked such questions once, and they will ask such questions again and again in the future. When they ask more questions, they will get used to it, and it will become natural!
Perhaps at this time, Europeans finally understood the feelings of the Chinese people. Why did we invent gunpowder, but others used gunpowder to open the door?
Europeans have only just begun to reflect.
But as for the Chinese people, the Chinese people in another world have been reflecting on it for nearly two hundred years.
Why?
There isn't that much in this world at all, why?
There is only one truth, either you get beaten or you hit someone. When you are being beaten, you have to grow up and work hard. When you are beating someone, of course you have to do whatever you want. Just like Nanhua now.
But now, as the emperor, Napoleon III still doesn't understand why. In fact, when faced with such a problem, everyone can't help but ask why.
But who can find the real answer?
"Your Majesty, I have asked many scholars. One thing that is certain is that they will never be able to build such a huge airship. They can't even imagine how Nanhua scientists solved the problem of large airbags in large airships. They are limited by materials.
Due to the restrictions, the airship airbags we manufacture cannot withstand excessive pressure, nor can they be made very large, so this also limits our use."
To put it bluntly, it is a matter of materials and design. It is only the 19th century, and the so-called science is still basically at the stage of experience.
If it weren't for Zhu Xianhai's reminder, Nanhua's airship used silk-reinforced rubber airbags and introduced a ribbed cross-section configuration, which increased the overall strength of the airship. Nanhua would not have been able to create a large non-rigid airship.
Although these technologies are just technologies from the 1920s, they are undoubtedly extremely advanced for Europeans of this era and are difficult for them to understand at the moment.
"And more importantly, we don't know what Nanhua's airships rely on to fly. Human power? Obviously not. Maybe they have a new type of engine that we don't understand yet. Who knows? But one thing is certain.
Yes, our army needs this airship, it will help us defeat any enemy!"
Edmond Leboeuf swore that he, like many others, was stunned by the destructiveness displayed by the airship. He had never seen any weapon that could destroy a city from hundreds of kilometers away, and he had never seen any weapon that could destroy a city from hundreds of kilometers away.
He had never imagined that war could be fought in this way, but he could imagine how the party that controlled the airship would conduct the war.
What was even more surprising to them was that those airships could fly hundreds of kilometers away. What kind of engines did they rely on? Obviously it couldn't be a steam engine, because steam engines are too heavy.
And using a steam engine on an airship - is this a short life?
Because of this, those French scientists made a very accurate inference that Nanhua had invented a new type of engine that they had never known.
For many scientists, compared to being curious about airships, they are more curious about Nanhua's new engine. In their opinion, that is the invention that will really change everything.
It's just that they know nothing about all this now. It's all just speculation.
"Your Majesty, although we are far away from Berlin and not close to London, with airships, everything will fundamentally change. We can use airships to bomb their cities and arsenals like the South China Army did.
Of course, we can also destroy their arsenals, destroy their military camps, and even before the war breaks out, we can use airship bombing to end the war, Your Majesty!"
This is exactly the inference of many officers. Although they know that reporters are exaggerating, they still believe that future wars will be fundamentally changed because of airships. The biggest change is that bombing of the rear will become the most important aspect of the war.
common way.
While the military factory was producing, the airship dropped the bomb. The machinery in the military factory would be blown up and production would be interrupted. Is it possible to win the war when there are not enough weapons on the front line?
Of course it's impossible.
Airships can even bomb railways and trains, preventing the enemy's supplies and troops from being transported to the front line.
Even for the navy's fleet, the threat of airships cannot be ignored. When those warships are parked at the military port, if an airship flies there and drops a large number of bombs, it is very likely that a fleet built with millions of dollars will be built.
will be destroyed.
Regarding the usefulness of airships, officers and scholars are always full of various imaginations, but all imaginations will ultimately be attributed to one thing - airships are weapons that every country needs to master.
A country that cannot control airships is destined to be the loser in the next war. Of course, this judgment is a slightly exaggerated judgment by those officers.
But how many countries are willing to risk their country's future?
"Since it is so important, then find a way to get it!"
Napoleon III thought for a while and said.
"Didn't Lesseb say that we can exchange for all this by recognizing their occupation of Chile and Argentina? We will recognize his occupation. Of course, just one ship is not enough, ten ships! General, ten ships are enough
Of course we all know that they will definitely not give us that much, but we can spend money to buy it from them, are you right?"
When making this decision, Napoleon III said mockingly to himself.
"In fact, we have bought many weapons from them, such as Spencer rifles and Gatling guns. I have to say that maybe these weapons were invented by Americans, but the best-performing ones are weapons made by Nanhua. Or,
This is what makes them unique. We Europeans can have many new inventions, but they have ways to improve those inventions to make them more successful. Well, there is also the Pacific Cable, which was successful because of their improvements. Now
The same is true for airships, their improvements are more successful, but we are the real inventors, right?"
Although this seems like an excuse, it is also true to a certain extent. Nanhua is indeed better at improving some European and American inventions. Of course, this improvement also relies on new "inventions".
"Yes, Your Majesty, even if they are slightly ahead in some aspects now, it is only temporary. As long as we buy their airships, we will soon master the corresponding technology. Nanhua is just imitating it better.
That’s all.”
Of course, Edmond Leboeuf would not refute His Majesty's excuse. Not only would he not refute it, he would even tell everyone this indisputable fact.
At least this will make His Majesty feel more comfortable.
After thinking for a while, Edmond Leboeuf said again.
"Your Majesty, ten airships are just the beginning. In the future we will have hundreds or even hundreds of airships. By then, the sky will belong to France. Even if Britain owns the ocean, so what? France owns the sky.
Will have it all!”
There are not many secrets in European countries, but just one day later, the news that France was going to establish an aerospace force and purchase airships from South China spread from Paris to London. It was not a spy's spying, but a counterattack by the Minister of the Navy - in the Navy
In the opinion of the minister, the airship should be owned by the navy.
As a result, this secret was spread out inadvertently. When this secret spread, the Navy could use the pressure from the United Kingdom to obtain more airships for itself.
In the view of many naval officers, the airship itself should belong to the navy. Airships, as the name suggests, are flying ships.
Since it was an airship, it must have belonged to the navy, so some differences of opinion occurred inadvertently between the army and navy of the French Empire, and it was these differences that allowed the British to obtain some confidential information.
Of course, London doesn't care about the dispute between the army and navy in Paris. What is the only thing they care about?
It is an airship that the French are about to possess—a weapon that will fundamentally change the course of the war.
Unlike the French, there was a rather detailed explanation in front of the Prime Minister's desk at No. 11 Downing Street. After all, British warships were on the Rio de la Plata when the bombing was going on, and many officers witnessed it with their own eyes.
Field bombing, they are fully aware of the power of airships.
Of course, this understanding only has two words - powerful!
As Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone, he didn't care how powerful the airship was, but what he did care about was that the French owning airships was definitely not good news for Britain.
"The sky belongs to France, this is impossible, we must get the airship!"
He said directly to George William Frederick Villiers, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
"George, we're going to get it, do you think we have a chance?"
"I believe we have every chance of getting it. Since they are willing to sell the airship to the French, they will definitely sell it to us. Besides, compared to the French, we have what they need."
George's answer made William Ewart Gladstone frown,
"You mean the warship?"
What has always been the most developed in Britain?
That is to say, shipbuilding.
Especially in the era of armored swords, British shipbuilding technology has long been far behind all countries in the world.
Is there any country in the world that does not covet British-made ironclads?
The same is true for Nanhua. They once purchased warships from Britain, but because of their invasion of Chile, Britain banned the sale of warships to them.
Although Nanhua has also manufactured ironclads in the past few years, it is certain that they are eager for those tens of thousands of tons of ironclads made in Britain!
This is exactly what they hope to get from the UK. Of course it is also a bargaining chip for the UK!
"Yes, the reason why we have suspended the sale of warships to Nanhua is because of Chile, but as we all know, their occupation of Chile is now irreversible. Unless we send troops, there will not be many changes.
, and the ban on the sale of warships will not only affect our country's shipbuilding industry, but also affect our relationship with them, of course, the most important thing is France..."
Looking at the Prime Minister, George said directly.
"The French are on their side. Our hostility to Nanhua will only promote the growing closeness between them. I think we can use this as an opportunity to show goodwill to Nanhua and improve relations with them. By purchasing
Their airships, while mastering the secrets of their airship manufacturing, sell them warships to ensure the interests of our country's shipbuilding industry. After all, they definitely need British-made warships to strengthen their maritime power."
For any enterprising country, they will not ignore the existence of the ocean. Moreover, South China is a country that relies heavily on immigrants.
In order to gain a foothold on the land of Nanhua, they will definitely do everything possible to ensure the importation of immigrants. In this case, building a navy and strengthening maritime armaments has become an inevitable choice.
"But, George, we all know that doing so is tantamount to abandoning Argentina. For now, South China is more inclined to France, and it is not in our interests for them to control the La Plata River area. Now we are selling warships to them
, isn’t it helping their expansion in that area?”
Frowning his brows, Gladstone's tone became a little complicated. On the one hand, he hoped to prevent Nanhua from expanding in that area, but on the other hand, he knew very well that for England, there seemed to be no other option.
s Choice.
After thinking about it, Gladstone said.
"The situation that we have worked hard for many years in the Rio de la Plata will be destroyed by their rise!"
－－－－－－Digression－－－－－
A book club group has been established: 335260551. Everyone is welcome to join and discuss and deduce the plot together.
This chapter has been completed!